THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
1571. Dr W G James (DA) to ask the Minister of Trade and Industry:
List all the (a) goods and (b) services that have been traded between South
Africa and Syria in the past three financial years?
Response:
A.List of Goods Traded with Syria[1]
2010 Exports and Imports
The top 5 goods exported to Syria in 2010 were: Base metals and related
articles (55.68% of total exports);chemical products (25,59%);transport and
equipment (6,22%); machinery, appliances, electrical equipment and parts
(5,52%); and textiles (2,47%). The top 5 exported products in 2010
constituted 95,48 % of total exports.
The main imported goods from Syria in 2010 were machinery and appliances,
electrical equipment and parts comprising a 31,34% share of total imports;
textiles (21,83%); plastics, rubber articles (20,17%); vegetable products
(14,93%) share and unclassified goods (5,12%). The main imported products
accounted for 93,39 % of total imports from Syria in 2010.
Total exports in 2010 amounted to R 58,8 million and total imports were R
8,4 million, resulting in a trade surplus of R 50,4 million in South
Africaâs favour.
2011 Exports and Imports
In 2011, the top 5 exported goods to Syria were: chemical products with a
49,45% share of total exports base metals (28,72%), machinery, appliances,
electrical equipment and parts (6,89%); optical, measuring, medical
instruments (5,38%); transport and equipment (5,16%). These products
accounted for 95,60 % of South Africaâs total exports to Syria in 2011.
The main products imported from Syria in 2011 were: textiles articles with
a 50,22 % of total imports, machinery, appliances, electrical equipment and
parts (25,31%); vegetable products (9,67%); chemical products (5,76%); and
base metals (2,36%). The 5 main imports from Syria in 2011 made up 93,32 %
of the total goods imported.
In 2011, total exports amounted to R 42 million and total imports were R
10,4 million. This gave South Africa a trade surplus of R 31,5 million.
2012 Exports and Imports
The top 5 exported products to Syria in 2012 were: foodstuffs, beverages,
spirits & vinegar, tobacco and tobacco substitutes with a 52,8 % share of
total exports; chemical products (26,55%); base metals (8,32%); textile
products(6,52%); transport and equipment (6,52%). These products accounted
for 94,19 % of total exports to Syria in 2012.
The main imports from Syria in 2012 were: textiles products with a 46,49%
share of total imports; machinery, appliances, electrical equipment and
parts (12,46%); unclassified goods (10,65%); vegetable products (7,83%);
and miscellaneous manufactures (5,63%). The main exports accounted for
83,05 % share of total imports in 2012.
Total exports in 2012 amounted to R 62,8 million and total imports were R 8
million, resulting in a trade surplus of R 54,8 million in South Africaâs
favour.
B. Services Traded with Syria
MTN is the only known service company with a presence in Syria, where they
provide mobile network services. There are no known Syrian service
companies with operations in South Africa.
Deputy-Director-General
Division: ITED
Date:â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦
Recommended/not recommended
Mr Lionel October
Director-General: the dti
Date:â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦
Approved/Not Approved
Minister Rob Davies, MP
Minister of Trade and Industry
Date:â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦
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[1] Source: thedti statistical database